Robin Williams’ Wife Reveals He Had Parkinson’s Disease In New Statement

So sad. Robin Williams was sober but battling both depression and the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease at the time of his death, his wife, Susan Scheider, revealed in an emotional new statement on Aug. 14.

This just keeps getting more heartbreaking. Robin Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, revealed in a just-released statement that the acclaimed actor and comedian, who died of an apparent suicide by hanging on Aug. 11, was in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease.

Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid.

Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.

Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.

It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.

Robin’s beloved daughter,Zelda Williams, also released an emotional statement on Aug. 12, one day after her father was found dead at 63. Here’s the full statement from her personal Tumblr:

“My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that’s gone, and I feel stripped bare. My last day with him was his birthday, and I will be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments. While I’ll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there’s minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions. It doesn’t help the pain, but at least it’s a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that.

To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh. As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you’ve had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too…

Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I’ve ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We’ll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again.”

“Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer,” Zak wrote. “I will carry his heart with me every day. I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be. Seek to bring joy to the world as he sought.”

“There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father,” Cody said. “The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again.”

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255; operators are available 24/7.